Endangered historic buildings in Illinois

Chris Sweda, Chicago Tribune

The Uptown Theater, at 4816 N. Broadway in Chicago, is one of the city's grand movie palaces. It hosted its last event in 1981 and steady deterioration and thwarted efforts at rescue in the years since have been well documented. Renovation would cost $50 million to $70 million, according to Landmarks Illinois.

The Uptown Theater, at 4816 N. Broadway in Chicago, is one of the city's grand movie palaces. It hosted its last event in 1981 and steady deterioration and thwarted efforts at rescue in the years since have been well documented. Renovation would cost $50 million to $70 million, according to Landmarks Illinois. (Chris Sweda, Chicago Tribune)

The Central Manufacturing District, at Ashland Avenue and Pershing Road in Chicago, was founded in 1892 but has been in decline along with the loss of manufacturing in Chicago. Most of the massive buildings are considered antiquated and inefficient, according to Landmarks Illinois.

The Central Manufacturing District, at Ashland Avenue and Pershing Road in Chicago, was founded in 1892 but has been in decline along with the loss of manufacturing in Chicago. Most of the massive buildings are considered antiquated and inefficient, according to Landmarks Illinois. (Antonio Perez, Chicago Tribune)

An Illinois preservation group's annual list of endangered historic places includes the long-shuttered Uptown Theater in Chicago as well as McAuley Schoolhouse in West Chicago, which was the last functioning one-room schoolhouse in the state when it closed in 1992. Landmarks Illinois has been issuing the statewide list for 19 years in an effort to bring attention to buildings and places in imminent danger of being torn down or otherwise lost.